Where Is Santorini And How To Get There? (2024)
If you saw photos of the picturesque whitewashed houses and blue domes of Santorini, your first question was probably where is Santorini?
I visited Santorini several times, so I’ve got you covered!
To see the iconic cliffside houses, unique landscapes of volcanic origin, and typical Cycladic architecture in Santorini, you’ll have to fly to Europe.
Santorini is a small island in the European country of Greece. It is located in the southern part of Europe, and it is quite easy to reach despite being an island.
So, where is Santorini located?
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Which Country Is Santorini Located In?
Santorini is an island located in Greece.
As it is part of Greece, Santorini is also in the EU, so all the rules of traveling to the EU apply to Santorini.
When you look for Santorini on the map, you’ll find it in southeast Europe. It is situated in the Aegean Sea, a similar distance from Athens, Crete, and Turkey.
Santorini belongs to the group of islands called the Cyclades Islands. Other popular islands that are part of the Cyclades are Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and Milos.
The recognizable whitewashed houses of Santorini are typical Greek island architecture, but Santorini is unique among other Cycladic islands thanks to its volcanic origins and stunning caldera.
How Big Is Santorini?
The surface of Santorini is 76.19 km², while the length of its shore is 69km.
From north to south, Santorini is 16km long, and its width varies from 1 to 5km.
Despite its small size, it takes about 45 minutes to drive from Oia in the north to Akotiri in the south of the island.
You can visit Santorini without a car, but the island is not walkable. If you don’t drive, you’ll have to take public transport or taxis.
How To Get To Santorini
So, how to reach Santorini?
Santorini is an island, so there are two ways to reach Santorini – by air or by sea.
Flying is the quicker, and sometimes cheaper, way to get to Santorini.
If you’re already in Greece or one of the neighboring Cycladic islands, you can take a ferry to Santorini.
Santorini is also a popular stop on many Mediterranean cruises and Greek island sailing weeks.
Flying Into Santorini
If you’re only visiting Santorini, the best way to reach Santorini is to fly directly to Santorini airport.
Santorini has an airport, which is very well connected to many European destinations.
Direct Flights To Santorini
Santorini has direct flights from several European countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, and more.
Most of these flights are served by low-cost airlines, such as Volotea, Easyjet, and Transavia. That means that if you’re in Europe, you can find a cheap direct flight to Santorini.
Apart from Mykonos, Santorini is the only island in the Cyclades with international flights.
Flights To Santorini From Athens
If you’re coming from the USA, or outside of Europe generally, you’ll probably fly into Athens.
However, you don’t have to worry about getting from Athens to Santorini.
It is just a short 40-minute flight!
There are many daily flights from the capital to Santorini, starting from 6 in the morning until 10 in the night.
Most of these lines are served by Greek providers – Sky Express and Aegean Airlines.
Sometimes it can be cheaper to fly directly to Santorini than to transfer to Athens, so you can plan your trip accordingly.
How To Get From Santorini Airport To Fira?
Santorini Airport is just about 6km from Fira. Santorini is a safe travel destination, but I don’t think walking to the city is a good idea because there are no sidewalks along most of the road.
Taking a bus from the airport to Fira is the best affordable option. The bus comes about once an hour, so you might have to wait a bit after landing.
When I took the bus, we even waited for everybody to get out of the airport because it was the last flight of the night.
If you’re going from the airport to Oia or Perissa, you’ll have to switch to a different bus in Fira.
If you have a lot of luggage, or you simply don’t want to struggle with buses, you can also order a transfer to your accommodation!
Santorini can be expensive compared to mainland Greece, so an airport transfer will cost you 30-45€, depending on where you’re staying on the island.
Taking A Ferry To Santorini
Santorini is an island, so the most common way to get there is by taking a ferry.
The Ferry network works great in the Cyclades, and you can reach Santorini from Athens and every island in the neighborhood.
You can take a ferry to Santorini from Athens, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, and many other Cycladic islands.
When I was island hopping the Cyclades, I took a ferry from Santorini to Naxos, and it was a straightforward and pleasant experience.
I use Ferryhopper to book all my ferries, as I can easily see all departure times and prices at a glance.
There is no reason to book the more expensive ferries unless it is a couple of hours difference in travel times.
Express ferries are usually just 15-30 minutes faster than regular ferries, and unless you’re on a very strict schedule, it won’t make any difference.
⛴️ Browse ferries to Santorni here!
FAQ:
Yes, Santorini is an island in Greece, which is located in the south of Europe. The island is situated south of mainland Greece, and it is part of the Cyclades group of islands.
No, Santorini is not a country. Santorini is an island in a European country Greece. It is located south of mainland Greece and the capital of Athens. Santorini belongs to the group of islands called the Cyclades.
Yes, Santorini is an island in Greece. It is located in the Aegean Sea, about 200km southeast of the capital of Athens.
Summary: Where Is Santorini Island
Now you know what country is Santorini in — Santorini is an island in Greece, located about 200 km southeast of Athens.
Santorini is not a country or a city, but a small Greek island that belongs to the group of islands called the Cyclades, known for the picturesque whitewashed houses and blue domes.
While some would say Santorini is an expensive holiday destination, it is possible to visit Santorini on a budget.
I spent several days in Santorini in September and had a great time exploring the island, swimming on Santorini beaches, and watching Santorini sunsets.
Santorini is well worth visiting and easy to get to, so start preparing your trip now!
